By the numbers

The weight (in pounds) of the current world record-holding mako shark caught in Massachusetts by Luke Sweeney in 2001.

13

Average litter of pups a female mako shark will carry

400

The number of makos tagged in 2012 by the National Marine Fisheries Service, in an effort to track the shark's migratory patterns, diet, age and growth cycles.

60

Miles per hour: estimated top speed of a mako shark, making it the fastest shark in the world.

Frequently asked questions

Answered by scientists Perry Hampton (Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach), professor Chris Lowe (Cal State Long Beach) and Owyn Snodgrass (Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla).

Do mako sharks attack people?

There are no known cases in California, but mako sharks are allegedly responsible for attacks in Egypt's Red Sea a few years ago.

How many people are killed by sharks?

On average worldwide, five to 15 people die of a shark attacks each year,

How many sharks are killed by people?

Humans kill more than 100 million sharks annually.

How can you tell the age of a mako shark?

Once a shark dies, scientists can use the vertebrae of a shark like a tree trunk, counting the rings to determine its age.

How can sharks be better protected?

Shark reproduction tends to be slow, and overfishing poses a problem to the future survival of many species and the health of the ocean. Avoid products containing ingredients derived from shark and avoid eating seafood that is not sustainable.

Weighing in at 1,323.5 pounds, the 11-foot-long shark reportedly took out more than a quarter-mile of line before Johnston could reel the fish back to the boat.

"I've hunted lions and brown bears, but I've never experienced anything like this," said Johnston, who came to Huntington Beach specifically to hunt big mako sharks. "It felt like I had a one-ton diesel truck at the end of the line, and it wasn't budging."

Breakaway skipper Matt Potter, who has become known as the local big mako hunter, said the group fishing aboard his 37 Topaz sportfisher captured the entire struggle on film as they were shooting a television program called "The Professionals" for the Outdoor Channel network.

The show follows professional big game hunters through the victories and trials of their adventures.

"Jason was the guy they picked as the fisherman for the day," Potter said.

"We had two cameramen on board, and they got some of the best footage of big makos ever," Johnston said.

To get an accurate reading, Potter towed the shark on a boat trailer to New Fishall Bait Co. in Gardena, where they could get an official weight and length. The shark was put into a deep freeze locker and will be donated to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association, where they can research the shark's age and lifecycle.

NOAA fisheries research biologist Owyn Snodgrass said they can use the vertebrae of a shark like a tree trunk, counting the rings to determine its age.

"We know very little about large, female mako sharks," Snodgrass said. "That is why this is a very important shark for research purposes."

Before the fish can be claimed a world record, Johnston will have to submit an application to the International Game Fish Association and answer questions regarding how the fish was caught. Certain rules are in place to assure that the fishing rod was only handled by one angler and was never placed on the boat's rail during the fight.

"With the whole thing on film, I'm pretty sure we won't be caught lying," said Johnston, noting that the show should air in late fall or early December. "Should be one of the best episodes of the season."

Those on board included Potter and Johnston, cameramen Richard Sanchez and Tanner Adams, deckhand Frank Milinazeo, and the show host Corey Knowlton.

WORTH THE CATCH?

While the capture of a more than 1,300-pound shortfin mako shark last week brought jubilation to the angler, skipper and crew aboard the Huntington Beach-based sportfishing vessel Breakaway, the story has sparked a debate about the environmental consequences of taking one of the ocean's largest predators out of the food chain.

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